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Silverado softball coach arrested for sexual misconduct with student

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By Antonio PlanasLAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

A former Silverado High School varsity softball coach was arrested Thursday on charges of sex with a student and producing child pornography.

According to Albert S. Hernandez's arrest report, he had a relationship that lasted several months with a 17-year-old female team member. The relationship was confirmed by Clark County School District police through the girl's cellphone records, the report said.

The two exchanged explicit text messages and photos.

According to school police, Hernandez, 43, faces six felony counts, including two counts of sex between a school employee and a student, three counts of distributing child pornography and one count of production of child pornography.

On Feb. 2, police said, the girl sent Hernandez a text declaring her feelings for him.

"I love you so much Albert," the text message read. "You are my freaking everything and I'm so glad that we are together."

Police recovered text messages between the former coach and the girl dating to December.

The report said the girl's father went to police April 23 because he was concerned about how often his daughter phoned and texted her coach. The report said the two had dinner with each other without the knowledge of the girl's parents.

Police obtained the teen's cellphone April 24. The girl's mother told investigators that she did not believe the two were having an inappropriate relationship, and that Hernandez had been a family friend for years. The mother viewed his role with her daughter as a "father figure" and "mentor," the report said.

School police Sgt. Darnell Couthen said investigators are not ruling out that Hernandez might have been involved with other minors, but they haven't linked him to additional allegations as of Thursday afternoon.

District police said Hernandez was also a coach for a local youth softball team, but Couthen wouldn't name the team. David Roddy, a district spokesman, said Hernandez was hired as a coach in April 2009. He has never held any teaching positions with the school system and has been a coach at Silverado since earlier this year. Roddy did not know of other schools where Hernandez had coached.

Roddy said because softball season is over, Hernandez is not employed with the district and won't be hired again.

During their investigation, police found nude pictures of both the teenage girl and Hernandez. They also found pictures of the two engaging in sexual acts.

The Silverado student was interviewed by police Wednesday and told investigators that the sex had been consensual and she knew it was wrong. She also said Hernandez had bought her a cellphone and paid the bills.

He was arrested after pulling out of his driveway on a Harley-Davidson about 6 a.m. Thursday, the report said.

His arrest comes days after a youth soccer coach was arrested on charges of molesting one of his 13-year-old team members. Marvin Geovanny Juarez, 35, was booked Sunday by Las Vegas police on four counts of lewdness with a minor under 14 .

On May 23, an Air Force ROTC adviser at Sunrise Mountain High School was arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a student. A 17-year-old girl told police she was coerced into having sex with Lt. Colonel Douglas Young, 49.

In Nevada, anyone who is 21 or older and is employed in a position of authority at a school is guilty of a category C felony if he or she engages in sexual conduct with a pupil who is 16 or 17 and is guilty of a category B felony if the student is 14 or 15.

District police encourage anyone with information about Hernandez to call 799-7830, ext. 5262, or contact Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

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